About

Discover the world with us…

Did you turn up at a destination’s #1 TripAdvisor hotel, only to realize the raters were prioritizing price and easy train access over service and amenities? Or have you visited a restaurant where the owner’s gregarious personality, not the food, is what inspires rave reviews?

We’ve been there, too, and now know that who gives the recommendation is just as important as the information itself.

Smart travelers gather tips from people on the same travel wavelength. That’s why it’s important that we tell you about our travel preferences up front:

We love discovering destinations that most people don’t know about.

We choose comfort or extraordinary experiences over price.

We travel. A lot. What you’ll find here comes from direct experience, not what we read on the web (see our 2012 review and 2011 review).

We’ve got nothing against value and personality (what’s not to like?), but those characteristics alone won’t make us swoon. We’ve grown to appreciate the total package.

We have a “less is more” philosophy. None of our favorite memories come from trying to squeeze five museums into 24 hours.

Lastly, a dedication: This site is dedicated to those corners of the world that remain unique and authentic despite an increasingly flat and homogenized planet. We applaud the places and activities that feel quintessentially local and the vendors that love their region and want to share that affection.

We hope you’ll come along for the ride as we share our favorite places both on and off the beaten path.

What keeps this site alive?

Many people ask what keeps our site alive. The answer? You! Every person that signs up for our email updates or RSS feed, or shares something using the social media “share” buttons below our posts, helps our search engine ranking, which in turn leads more people to this site. More eyeballs = more interest from sponsors = we can continue to bring you more interesting, independent content (we will not sell our site “real estate” in return for positive reviews). If you’ve found a shred of travel inspiration on this site, please take the time to help us in return. Your karmic blessings await.

We’d love to hear from you. To send us a note, please contact us by email at us [at] followbenandjenna [dot] com or through one of these methods:

In 1995, the Guinness Book of World Records named it the largest rope in the world. How large is Guinness-large? Try 200 meters long (656 feet) and 2.2 meters thick (7.2 feet), for a whopping 43 metric tons of rice straw (94,799 pounds)! Now for a bit of background. It all began over 500 […]